Head of Quality
Position Overview:
The Head of Quality will lead the company's Quality function whilst supporting the development, optimisation and implementation of food products and manufacturing processes. Working closely with New Product Development (NPD), Technical, Operations and Production teams, the successful candidate will ensure that products are manufactured safely, consistently and efficiently, meeting customer, regulatory and business requirements.
This role plays a key part in maintaining the highest food safety and quality standards whilst driving continuous improvement across the manufacturing operation.
Key Responsibilities:
Product Development, Training and Process Implementation
- Lead the successful transfer of new products from development through to full-scale production, ensuring products can be manufactured consistently, safely and efficiently.
- Develop and deliver practical, hands-on training to production teams on new products, recipes, manufacturing methods and processing techniques.
- Train employees on the critical process controls required during scale-up to ensure product quality, food safety and consistency are maintained as production volumes increase.
- Create clear manufacturing instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), visual work instructions and training materials to support product implementation.
- Work alongside the production team during factory trials and initial production runs, coaching employees to ensure processes are understood and followed correctly.
- Validate the recipes, processing parameters and manufacturing methods to ensure they are robust, repeatable and suitable for full-scale production.
- Identify process variations and provide practical coaching to ensure products consistently meet agreed specifications for quality, yield, texture, appearance and taste.
- Lead post-launch reviews, ensuring lessons are learned for future product development and manufacturing processes.
Quality Management
- Develop, implement and continuously improve the Quality Management System.
- Monitor Quality performance through KPIs and trend analysis, implementing improvements where required.
- Ensure compliance with all food safety, legal, customer and certification requirements.
- Investigate quality issues, identify root causes and implement effective corrective and preventative actions.
- Support customer, retailer and third-party audits.
Product & Process Development.
- Support the development of new food products and reformulations from concept to launch.
- Plan and conduct factory trials, scaling recipes and processes from kitchen or pilot stage to full production.
- Optimise manufacturing processes including mixing, heating, cooling, cooking, filling and packaging.
- Evaluate ingredient functionality, processing performance and product stability.
- Ensure products can be manufactured consistently whilst maintaining quality, efficiency and cost objectives.
Recipe & Product Management
- Manage and maintain master recipes, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
- Work closely with production teams to ensure recipes are followed precisely.
- Support new product development with testing, sampling and quality validation.
Technical & Compliance
- Ensure all new products and manufacturing processes comply with food safety legislation, customer requirements and internal standards.
- Ensure all new processes meet food safety and quality standards
- Work closely with Technical to validate compliance with regulatory, retailer and internal requirements.
- Conduct sensory assessments and support quality improvement initiatives.
- Ensure compliance with HACCP, GMP, allergen controls and food safety systems.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Working alongside NPD, technical, procurement and operations during product development and launch stages.
- Communicate trial results, technical challenges and recommendations to the team.
- Support continuous improvement projects on efficiency, waste reduction and product consistency.
Skills & Experience Required
- Strong understanding of food processing technologies and ingredient functionality.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Practical hands-on approach with confidence in factory environment
- Excellent communication, coaching and project management skills
- Exceptional attention to detail with a commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
- Ability to work under pressure whilst managing multiple projects.
- Experience leading audits and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
Qualifications
- Degree in food science, food technology, food engineering or related discipline.
- Significant experience within food manufacturing in quality, process development, NPD, or technical Leadership.
- HACCP qualification
- Experience working within an accredited manufacturing environment would be an advantage.
Job Type: Full-time
Work Location: In person
